The Struggle for Canadian Copyright
304 pages, 6 x 9
Paperback
Release Date:01 Jul 2013
ISBN:9780774824057
Hardcover
Release Date:26 Feb 2013
ISBN:9780774824040
PDF
Release Date:26 Feb 2013
ISBN:9780774824064
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The Struggle for Canadian Copyright

Imperialism to Internationalism, 1842-1971

UBC Press

First signed in 1886, the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works was the world’s first broadly multilateral treaty on copyright. It is still the cornerstone of international copyright law today.

At the centre of The Struggle for Canadian Copyright is Canada’s experience with the Berne Convention. Set against the backdrop of Canada’s development from a British colony into a so-called middle power, this book reveals the deep roots of conflict in the international copyright system that continue to divide “developed” and developing countries. Canada’s signing of the convention can be viewed in the context of a former British colony’s efforts to join and engage with a community made up of the world’s most powerful nations. Throughout the past century, Canada’s copyright policy has been used to portray the country to the world, first as a British colony and subsequently as a sovereign country, a good global citizen, and a middle power. In this groundbreaking book, Sara Bannerman examines Canada’s struggle for copyright sovereignty and explores some of the problems rooted in imperial and international copyright that affect Canadians to this day.

This book will appeal to students of Canadian law, political science, history, and international relations, as well as to those interested in intellectual property law and policy.

A much-needed summary of the various international copyright conventions, their changing terms, and their influence on Canadian policy over the last one hundred plus years. C. Ian Kyer, Counsel to the Toronto office of Fasken Martineau
The Struggle for Canadian Copyright is a rare contribution: a political history of imperial and international copyright from a Canadian perspective. Sara Bannerman has produced a richly researched, well-written, and original account. David Vaver, Emeritus Professor of Intellectual Property & IT Law at the University of Oxford and Professor of Intellectual Property Law at Osgoode Hall Law School

Sara Bannerman is an assistant professor at McMaster University.

1 Introduction

2 Canada and the International Copyright System

3 Imperialism: Canadian Copyright under the Colonial System, 1842-78

4 United Empire: Canada and the Formation of the Berne Convention, 1839-86

5 Berne Buster: The Struggle for Canadian Copyright Sovereignty, 1887-1908

6 The New Imperial Copyright, 1895-1914

7 Copyright “Sovereignty,” 1914-24

8 Copyright Internationalism: Canada’s Debut, 1927-36

9 New Directions, 1936-67

10 Crisis in International Copyright, 1967

11 Re-engagement, 1967-77

12 After 1971

13 Conclusion

Notes

Bibliography and Archival Sources

Index
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